USA Gymnastics’ board steps down in wake of Nassar abuse scandal

USA Gymnastics’ board steps down in wake of Nassar abuse scandal

MICHIGAN — The board of USA Gymnastics stepped down Wednesday in the latest fallout from a widening sex abuse scandal involving the disgraced former doctor to the sport’s governing body.

Indianapolis-based USA Gymnastics said via Twitter that it was in the process of naming an interim board after receiving the resignations of 18 board members.

Three other board members resigned last week as Larry Nassar, the former Michigan State University and USA Gymnastics physician, faced more than 150 women in court over his abuse of two decades. He was sentenced to up to 175 years in prison for sexually abusing patients under the guise of medical treatment.

The Nassar scandal has led to a widening inquiry into how several institutions failed to stop the abuse for so long.

USA Gymnastics, the US Olympic Committee and Michigan State have denied wrongdoing. USA Gymnastics has said it reported the sexual abuse allegations to authorities when it learned about the abuse.

It had asked former federal prosecutor Deborah Daniels in late 2016 to review its policies on handling sexual misconduct.

In June, Daniels released a report highlighting numerous shortcomings. She made 70 recommendations, including requiring members to report suspected sexual misconduct to legal authorities and the US Center for SafeSport, and implementing an abuse prevention training plan for members, parents and athletes.

“USA Gymnastics embraces not only the changes necessary as called for by the USOC and the Deborah Daniels report, but we also will hold the organization to the highest standards of care and safety in further developing a culture of empowerment for our athletes and members,” the governing body said Wednesday on Twitter.